Turkey: Over 1,000 'secret imams' detained in raids

Istanbul : At least 1,000 people, accused of being 'secret imams' for an American-based cleric, have been detained in Turkey.

Cleric Fethullah Gulen was held responsible for a failed coup in July last year.

The detained have been accused of creating a parallel leadership by directing police officers, who are also loyal to the cleric, reported The New York Times.

Around 9,100 police officers have been suspended because of their alleged links with the cleric.

Interior minister Suleyman Soylu termed the development as the 'most important step' towards exposing a group that was infiltrating into the police force with the aim of establishing an alternative police organisation.

Around 1,009 people have been detained who are believed to be loyalists of Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in the United States.

The arrest was followed by detention of 38 opposition activists. Last week, these activists were questioned in regard to their involvement in protests about accusations of voter fraud in the recent referendum. (ANI)